Ogilvy looks to Scott for inspiration

Date: November 21 2012

Ben Everill

Geoff Ogilvy has axed his long-term caddy and looked to Adam Scott's example to improve his game amid the longest victory drought of his pro golf career.

The last Australian to win a major championship, 2006 US Open champion Ogilvy has parted ways with Alistair "Squirrel" Matheson after 13 years together and hired Australian caddy Matthew "Bussy" Tritton.

And after watching good friend Scott take his game to a new level in the last couple of years with a tunnel vision approach Ogilvy will borrow from the philosophy, but add his personal touch.

"I feel I'm at the point where I'm probably closer to the end of my career then the start," said Ogilvy.

"There's some stuff I want to achieve that I haven't done yet and I don't want to be looking back in five or six years thinking 'what if?'.

"It's not a complete reassessment but it is an acknowledgement that this won't last forever and I need to get going now.

"The last couple of years haven't been great for me results-wise."

Scott reduced his schedule two years ago, opting to focus heavily on preparing for the four majors and changing several aspects of his life to help it happen.

After years of under-achieving in the big ones, world No.5 Scott has finished inside the top-15 in six of the last eight majors and twice been a runner-up - clear indication he's on the right track.

Ogilvy said he won't reduce his tournaments, but will refocus his work to improve his game.

"I will go about it slightly differently," said the 35-year-old.

"But the philosophy Adam has embraced about not achieving what he wanted to achieve and knuckling down to be as good as he can, is one I'm taking on.

"He set his whole life up in a way to help him reach his goals and has really stepped it up.

"I am definitely looking at that and seeing that if you really do step up your work rate and work on the things that you need to you can improve the path you're on."

When Ogilvy tees it up at The Lakes in Sydney on December 6 for the Australian Open, it will be two years and a day since he held the Stonehaven Cup in 2010 - his last win anywhere in the world.

With seven career wins in the US, three other World Golf Championship events and two wins in Australia since 2005, Ogilvy has never gone this long between drinks, and looking for a fresh start has turned to Tritton.

"I was just time for a change," Ogilvy said.

"It had been 13 years and while it had been really good and he's an amazing caddy I just think we were both kind of a little stale.

"It's a big change but hopefully it can have a positive effect. I'm pretty sure it will."

Tritton gave up the bag of promising young American Cameron Tringale to jump on board and has worked successfully with the likes of Peter Lonard, Robert Allenby and Matt Kuchar in the past.

Like Ogilvy, Tritton is a member at Victoria Golf Club and they are long-time friends.

"To me it was just a really good fit," Tritton said.

"I know what his weaknesses are and feel I can help him overcome those and make his weaknesses strengths and get him to where he needs to be and belongs.

"There are guys on tour that are winners and guys that are not. Geoff is a proven winner and I am confident he will continue to win tournaments."

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